Family-friendly work

For many working people, family comes before everything else. And in recent years, the law has become more sensitive to the needs of parents and carers. But juggling work and family is still a struggle for working mums and dads.

If you have caring responsibilities – whether for children, elderly or disabled relatives, or other dependents – you have legal rights designed to help you balance the different parts of your life.

Most mums and dads have a statutory right to take paid time off around their baby’s birth. And many employers will have their own maternity and paternity leave policies that go beyond the legal minimum.

In addition, all employees have the right to request flexible working, once they have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks. This can help parents and other carers to manage their different responsibilities.

And you should never be discriminated against or harassed because of pregnancy or maternity, or because you care for a disabled person.

You also have specific rights if you work part-time, say while your children are school-age. Anyone who works less than full-time hours is a part-time worker, so this includes, for example, anyone on a zero hours contract.

This section will offer guidance on your rights, and on how you can make your working life more family-friendly.

But it shouldn’t be taken as legal or financial advice. The law in this area is complex and every case is different. Before taking any action, seek individual advice from your union or a qualified adviser.

I've got a young family and would like to change my work patterns. What are my rights?

As long as you are an employee, and you have been working continuously for your employer for at least 26 weeks, you have the right to make a request to work flexibly, and for your employer to consider that request.